After the world wide success of “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” or “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” (as published in US), the second book of the Harry Potter series was published on 2 July 1998 in United kingdom and on 2 June 1999 in United States of America. This time both the books were published under the same title.

Till June 2008, millions copies have been sold all across the globe. The book was written by J. K. Rowling. The story time line is identified for the first time in this book, to be from 1992 to 1993. This time frame is found by a poem sung by one of the ghost characters Nearly Headless Nick, when he celebrated his 500^th anniversary on Halloween. He also mentioned that he died in 1492.

The story starts with Harry Potter’s annual vacations at the Dursleys. Harry Potter’s muggle relatives had confiscated his magical instruments and he also did not receive any letters from friends. On 31^st July, which is Harry Potter’s birthday, he was visited by a house elf warning him not to return to Hogwarts at the end of vacations. Harry ignored the warning and was decided to go back.

When Harry Potter and Ron Weasley were about to pass through the Platform 9¾ to mount the Hogwarts Express, they were denied the access. Both of them had to fly back by stealing Weasley family’s enchanted Ford Anglia.

The following events included the opening of Chamber of Secrets – setting free a monster, which petrifies anyone staring into his eyes. The Chamber of Secrets was supposed to be opened by the true heir of Salazar Slytherin. Many including Harry Potter suspect him to be the heir of Slytherin after he spoke parseltongue – the language of snakes.

Harry Potter and Ron Weasley disguise themselves as close friends of Draco Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle, in order to seek truth about Slytherin’s heir from him. Draco Malfoy was ignorant about the heir but he provides them an important clue. Harry also found an important diary later on.

Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger move into the Chamber of Secrets, after locating its hidden location, in order to rescue Ginny Weasley from the chamber. They found Ginny Weasley in an unconscious state and also found a ghostlike young boy named Tom Riddle. Tom Riddle claimed to be a memory. Harry Potter also learned that Voldemort, whose real name was Tom Marvolo Riddle opened the Chamber of Secrets 50 years ago and as a result Rubeus Hagrid was blamed for the attacks and expelled from the Hogwarts.

The Basilisk – the monster freed from the Chamber of Secrets, attacked Harry Potter but Fawkes – Dumbeldore’s Phoenix arrived in time with the Sorting Hat containing the Sword of the Godric Gryffindor. Fawkes snatched the eyes of the Basilisk and Harry Potter slayed him with the sword. All the students petrified by the Basilisk were cured. Extra points were awarded to Harry Potter and Ron Weasley which enabled the Gryffindor house to lift the House Cup for the second year in a row.

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